Metropolis

[Johnny Robbo]

This is one of those melodies that just arrived fully formed... don't know where it came from. I was just strumming some chords in the living room while Mrs Robbo was watching telly & I started humming this tune. The next day I could still remember it so I decided to do something with it.

It's ended up as kind a showcase for all my influences, I reckon... there's the slightly Shadows-y melody; the chord changes & walking bass line are a nod in the jazz direction; the solo in the middle was (once again) me trying to be Gary Moore & it goes a little bit "prog rock" at the end.

That middle solo was a bitch to do, by the way... I did about a dozen takes & ended up splicing one solo together out of all of them. Then it was a case of learning to play that solo (or as close to it as I could get – some things had to be moved up/down an octave to make it playable). After that I went through it again and again until it was fluent enough for me to do little improv bits around it. What you hear is three separate takes of that solo spliced together.

All the usual suspects... Cakewalk/Tonelab/Tele/Harley Benton etc...

If you're interested, here's a bit more detail on the mix:

https://jrobsonguitar.wordpress.com/2016/08/11/mixing-metropolis/

Cheers,

John.

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[bruno]

Great tune Johnny - swings like a beaut. Very Gary Moore :-)
B

[kenny mac]

Wow stunning work johnny,that guitar sings so sweet,your tone is amazing.
Well done bro,a lot of work has went into this.
Brilliant performance mate.

[Blooby]

Another stellar post. Super tasty and well constructed.

Here is a post from The Gear Page in a thread about the Voz ToneLab. Thought you might appreciate it.

I frequent a songwriting site called songcrafters.org. Great community, virtually no trolling, and unfailingly positive with a wide swath of ability. Most folks have modest studio setups, and a few have chimed in with professional grade studios. There is a gentleman on the site (Johnny Robbo if interested) who churns out some of the most consistently delicious overdriven tones I've ever heard (I think of myself as a bread and butter Fender and vintage Marshall guy). I don't claim to be some guru with it as I recently got mine, but I say this as much to myself as to you when I say, "Stick with it, and you will eke out some killer tones, especially for down and dirty recording." Good luck to the both of us. I know there's some great stuff under the hood.

Blooby

[Groundy]

Superb Johnny,As kenny said, That guitar sings so sweet....
Well done Pal......

Alex

[Redler]

Nice mix of jazz, blues and rock! Enjoyable melodies with brilliant playing!

Well done, Johnny!

[Hook]

This is the jazzification of badassery!
Excellent playing, writing and production.
Rock on brother!

[Farrell Jackson]

The music style reminds of The Stray Cats but the fantastic guitar work is all you, Johnny. Great song and playing!

Farrell

[Kenneth]

Another tasteful and stunning post Johnny. Not just the playing, but the whole production. love those ones that just arrive... wish it happened more often!

Pro- as always. I'm a big fan.

Congrats!

[Mike_S]

Amazing playing Johnny... and a great melody too. Super stuff.

Mike